Chapter 17: The Arrangement

"There you are partner!" shouted Nendo as he sprinted down the corridor. "Where'd you and chibi get to on Saturday? You both straight up disappeared."

Rolling his eyes, Saiki didn't bother to stop. "It was too hot, so we went for ice cream," he lied, hurrying into the classroom. He took his seat and unpacked his things.

It was now Monday morning, two nights since he and Kaidou had sat alone beneath the pier. Since parting ways late in the afternoon, the pair had had no further contact. This had not worried Saiki, however. He didn't expect the two of them to be exchanging messages regularly yet, if at all. As he understood it, the arrangement for now was to continue as normal – with the proviso that they meet outside of school again soon for their first 'date'. Despite the fact he disliked the cliché dates that couples typically went on, Saiki was excited. He was going to spend time with Kaidou, which was enough for him, whatever they ended up doing.

As the rest of the class took their seats, the teacher ready to begin, Kaidou burst through the door. Everyone looked his way, but quickly turned away again. Only Saiki continued to stare. With a slew of apologies, Kaidou took his seat. Catching Saiki's gaze, he smiled and winked. Saiki shot him a smile back before quickly lowering his head. An overreaction perhaps, but he couldn't risk anyone finding out about the two of them.

Three hours passed. Saiki spent the time watching the hands of the clock, with periodic glances over at Kaidou. When it finally struck twelve, the bell ringing, Saiki rejoiced and packed away his things, ready for some lunch. However, before he could finish doing so, his classmates were already forming up around his desk, encircling him.

"Saiki, dude, we need to talk. What you doin' for lunch?"

"Let's grab some ramen, partner!"

"No no, we're playing tennis, isn't that right Saiki? Best of three sets?"

He sighed. The cult-like 'friendship' group he had unintentionally created – through no action of his own – was persistent and tiresome. As if the burden of his powers wasn't enough, he had to contend with being the centre of everyone's (unwanted) attention.

As he rose from his seat, he spotted Kaidou slip out the classroom door.

"I'm busy," he quickly projected, grabbing his bag and making for the exit. He stepped out into the corridor and locked the door behind him, his powers of telekinesis allowing him to bolt it shut. He soon caught up to Kaidou, who was now climbing the stairs with the throngs of other students. He wasn't able to get a hold of him though, too many bodies in the way. He followed him up until the crowds thinned out.

"Oh, Saiki," Kaidou smiled, stopping.

"You left quickly."

"I didn't want to bother you, you seemed kinda' busy."

Saiki shook his head.

"I wasn't busy. They had me trapped."

"Okay, okay," laughed Kaidou, continuing up the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Saiki asked, puzzled as to why they were almost on the top floor.

"To eat lunch!"

"Up here?"

"Yeah, on the roof. Surprised?"

"No. I just didn't know this was where you chose to have lunch."

"Ah, well I guess you usually eat with the guys, hm?"

"No. I prefer to be some place quiet."

"Like me then! That's why I come up here." Reaching the top of the stairs, Kaidou pushed open the disused metal door and stepped out onto the roof. "Where exactly do you eat?"

"Some empty classroom, somewhere," Saiki lied. He usually teleported home or to a secluded place on the other side of the world, but he couldn't tell him that.

Kaidou pulled a face. "Better to be out here in the open air than in the classroom."

Saiki couldn't agree more, the view from up here was great and the place was deserted. It was a shame he had never thought to come up here before.

"Why is there nobody else here?" he wondered aloud.

"I guess they just don't know about it. There aren't any rules against coming up here, I don't think."

Kaidou sat himself down, leaning his back against the rail that encircled the edge of the roof. He pulled his lunch from his bag and began to eat. Saiki sat beside him and did the same.

"I didn't expect us to be hanging out together so soon," said Kaidou between mouthfuls of rice.

"You didn't want to?"

"Of course I did! Actually… I couldn't think of anything else over the weekend, to be honest…" He shied away a little and laughed nervously.

Saiki smiled. He hadn't exactly planned to eat lunch with him, it just kind of happened through impulse, but it was nice to see how much Kaidou appreciated it.

"Had any thoughts of what you would like to do outside of school?"

"Uhh, some. Have you?"

Saiki considered reading his mind to see what he had come up with but decided against it. Too intrusive. From now on, he would only do that to Kaidou if it was absolutely necessary.

"I've had some too, yes," he projected. This wasn't strictly true – he had thought about it but hadn't come up with a definitive answer to the question of what their first 'date' should be. He wasn't sure what activity would officially make it a date and he didn't want to get it wrong. A quick internet search had provided him with a useless list of clichés, most of which he hated. One did stand out, however, as the best of a bad bunch: the cinema. He wasn't thrilled by the idea, but it seemed appropriate given how new their relationship was. It was sufficiently romantic and yet, at the same time, very casual. They were not ready – he wasn't ready – to go all-in with a candle-lit dinner at some fancy restaurant just yet. If he had to offer up an idea, it would have to be the cinema.

"Ooh, tell me!" Kaidou lay down his chopsticks and eagerly awaited Saiki's response.

"Tell me what you came up with first."

He narrowed his eyes and pouted.

"I did ask first," Saiki reminded him.

"Fine, fine. Well I, uhm, thought maybe we could go bowling?" He picked at the tape around his wrist, looking away for a second.

Saiki was hoping Kaidou's idea was going to best his own, but it wasn't to be. Bowling was a bad idea, for two reasons. 1. Saiki had trouble controlling his throws and was liable to kill someone if given a bowling ball. 2. Kaidou was too weak to pick up a bowling ball, let alone throw one.

"I see."

"I mean, we don't have to. If you don't want to that is. It was just an idea."

"It's not bad."

"Hm, okay… what was your idea?"

"…cinema."

Kaidou's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea!" he enthused. "It's been ages since I last went to see a movie."

"I figured it would be a good place to start," Saiki replied, silently thanking the internet for its wisdom.

"So, when should we…?"

Saiki thought for a moment. It hadn't even been forty-eight hours since their talk, but he was keen to get the ball rolling on their relationship. He had lived with enough uncertainty up to this point. Now he could explore his feelings, he was going to.

"There's no time like the present."

"Now?! But we have class in twenty minutes!"

"I meant tonight."

"Oh," Kaidou laughed, "sorry. Yeah, I'd like that… but I guess I should check with my mom first."

Saiki resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. It wasn't Kaidou's fault his mother tried to keep such a tight leash on him.

"Sure."

"I'll text her now."

As Kaidou did so, Saiki noticed a piece of seaweed clinging to his face, just beside his mouth. He reached out with his hand and tried brushing it off. Kaidou recoiled in surprise.

"You have some seaweed on your face," Saiki pointed out. Embarrassed, Kaidou tried his best to wipe it off.

"Is it gone?"

Saiki shook his head, smiling. "Let me." He inched closer and reached out once more. He deftly removed the seaweed, but as he did so, he made the mistake of looking into Kaidou's eyes. Just like the first time he had done so, he lost himself in their reddish hue. His hand remained beside his face, fingers curled, knuckles pressing gently against his skin. Kaidou matched his gaze, blinking back at him in anticipation. He leaned closer. Transfixed, Saiki opened up his hand to meet him. He cupped his face and continued to stare, not wanting to look away. His stomach fluttered, his fingertips tingling. He felt Kaidou's cheek warming to the touch, his skin pinkening. Seconds passed before Saiki noticed Kaidou chewing his bottom lip, waiting. They were so close now he could feel his hot breath drifting over his own lips, urging him to act. He knew what he wanted. His heart raced; his blood pulsed. He wanted it too, but this… this was too soon.

He pulled away.

Kaidou immediately apologised, but Saiki was having none of it.

"Don't be sorry. It was my fault," he tried, trying to regain some composure.

"No, it was mine," Kaidou argued, panting a little.

"I didn't mean to-"

"We'll take it slow, okay?" He offered him a nervous smile.

Saiki nodded. The date was one thing, but he didn't want to rush something like this.

"I'd like to try the date first, is that something you still want to do?"

Kaidou nodded excitedly. "I really want to, yes."

"Today?"

"Yeah!" A sudden beep from Kaidou's phone had him more excited. "And I should be able to come tonight too!"

Saiki smiled and nodded happily, grateful for Kaidou's understanding.

"The cinema awaits, then."